Surface finishing device



A. DE ROSE ET AL SURFACE FINISHING DEVICE Nov. 17, 1970 Filed Jan. 31.1967 'IlIII/IIZ'I A I VEN 0R 650265 gs 025 ANTOM/O DE Ross United StatesPatent 3,540,160 SURFACE FINISHING DEVICE Antonio De Rose, 703 GlenoaksBlvd., and George De Rose, 2028 8th St, both of San Fernando, Calif.

Filed Jan. 31, 1967, Ser. No. 612,968 Int. Cl. 324i) 23/00; B24d 17/00,/04

US. Cl. 51170 1 Claim ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE This invention relatesto surface finishing devices and, more particularly, to a novel surfacefinishing device having a substantially smooth and porous rubbing andgrinding surface adapted to be moved in oscillatory action or strokingaction over a prepared surface of an object for the purpose of finishingthe prepared surface to a polished and smooth surface finish.

In the past, it has been the conventional practice to employ a varietyof tools for manual or power operation effective to grind, rub or wipe aprepared surface of an article such as furniture, painted auto-mobilebodies, marble tops, wood surfaces, metal surfaces, etc. so that thearticles are provided with a smooth and polished finish surface. To thisend, a variety of abrasive or polishing materials are employed such asWax, jewelers rouge, polishing red, water, and the like that are used inconjunction with any one of the variety of rubbing and grinding toolsfor effecting a finished surface. Generally, it is customary for therubbing or grinding tool to be used in a sequence of steps withdifferent abrasive or polishing materials such as those just mentionedso that the prepared surface is subjected to multi-rubbing and grindingoperations. Such conventional procedure is extremely time consuming andrepresents a costly procedure in terms of equipment and polishingmaterials. The grinding tools are subject to rapid wearing and fatigueso that the tools or portion-s thereof are easily worn requiringfrequent replacement and the polishing compounds or materials employedare readily exhausted and cannot be reclaimed for the future orprolonged use.

Accordingly, the surface finishing device of the present inventionprovides a novel pad of basically leather or leatherlike material thathas been prepared by subjecting the pad to substantial emersion in waterso that a relatively smooth but porous working surface develops that isextremely stable. Preferably, the leather pad is supported by asemi-rigid backingmember that is suitably secured to the side of the padopposite to the side from which the Working surface is formed so thatthe pad is maintained relatively rigid during the rubbing and polishingoperation by either powered equipment or manually. For manual use, oneembodiment of the present invention provides for a strap or band havingits opposite ends secured to the device by being interposed between thebacking member and the pad in secured relationship therewith so that apersons hand may be insertably received between the band and the backingmember. For powered operation, the backing member may be provided with asuitable collar or other attachment means for detachable securement witha conventional portable power tool.

ice

The device of the present invention can be used either dry or with anysuitable polishing compound and a highly polished surface can beobtained on painted surfaces as well as on wood. On metal surfaces suchas aluminum, chrome, etc., the device may be employed with either apre-soaked pad or with a dry pad. For use on marble, it is preferredthat the pad be unsoaked. The device is usable on either finished orunfinished surfaces such as an unfinished base or finished final coat ofpaint. In many instances, the device has been found adaptive forreplacing sandpaper as an abrasive for both types of surfaces. Inaddition, the device has been found useful for polishing of metalimplements such as pots, pans, stoves, or the like and in suchinstances, it has been found that the device is adapted to clean as wellas to polish.

Therefore, it is a primary object of the present invention to provide anovel surface finishing device that is adapted to operate on finished orunfinished surfaces so as to provide a smooth and highly polishedfinished surface.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a novel surfacefinishing device adapted to be operated by hand or by power equipmentand which includes a working surface adapted to function by itself or inconjunction with a variety of polishing compounds to provide a finishedsurface for implements and articles composed of a variety of materialssuch as wood, marble, metal, etc.

Still a further object of the present invention is to provide a novelsurface finishing device incorporating a smooth but porous workingsurface having desirable surface characteristics attained afterimmersion in water for a prescribed length of time and which is capableof effecting a smooth and polished finished surface for a variety ofarticles.

Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a novel metalfinishing device having a working surface adapted to be forcibly engagedin either oscillatory or stroking movement with the surface of thearticle to be finished, of regular or irregular contour, so that asmooth and highly glossy polished finish ensues.

Other objects and advantages of the present invention will be understoodby those skilled in the art from the following description andaccompanying drawings which illustrates preferred embodiments of theinvention, where- FIG. 1 is a perspective view of one embodiment of thesurface finishing device incorporating the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a cross sectional view of the surface finishing device of FIG.1 as taken in the direction of arrows 22 thereof;

FIG. 3 is a side elevational view of the surface finishing device ofFIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is an enlarged perspective view of the surface finishing deviceillustrated in FIG. 1 and showing the device in typical manual usage;

FIG. 5 is a reduced perspective view of another version of the surfacefinishing device of the present invention adapted for power operation;

FIG. 6 is an enlarged sectional view of the version shown in FIG. 5illustrating the means for detachably connecting the pad to the shaft ofthe power device; and

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of still another embodiment of the presentinvention incorporating quantities of abrasive and polishing compounds.

Referring to FIG. 1, the novel surface finishing device of the presentinvention is illustrated in the direction of arrow 10 which includes apad 11 fabricated from a square of tanned leather so as to have aworking surface 12 and a top surface 13. A semi-rigid backing member 14is secured to the top surface 13 by any suitable bonding or adhesivemeans so that the backing member and pad 11 form a unitary structure. Itis to be particularly noted that the rear end of the backing member 14terminates at the rear edge of the pad 11 while the forward end of thebacking plate terminates to the rear of the leading edge of the pad 11.This feature permits the forward edge marginal region of the pad to flexabout an axis common with the forward edge of the backing member 14 sothat the device is operative in connection with articles of both regularand irregular contours. The backing member may be composed of anysuitable material such as plastic, fiberboard, wood, or the like.

Referring now specifically to FIG. 2, it is noted that a band or strap15 is employed which is adapted to extend about the back of a users handwhen the device is employed for manual movement. The strap is relativelynarrow at its mid-section and flares outwardly at its opposite ends 16and 17 which are secured to opposite sides of the device by disposingthe opposite ends between the backing member 14 and the top surface 13of the pad 11. The ends of the straps may be suitably securedtherebetween by any suitable adhesive or bonding agent. In someinstances, staples, rivets, or other types of fasteners may be employedto effect securement as long as the fastener devices do not extendthrough the working surface 12 of the pad 11.

If desired, the material of the band or strap 15 may be composed ofelastic material or include a portion which is composed of elasticmaterial so that the band will readily conform to the back of the handof the user. Furthermore, in some instances, it may be found desirableto employ a cushion pad which is carried on the uppermost surface of thebacking member 14. The cushioning pad is represented by numeral 18 andit may be composed of a fiberlike material such as felt or if desirable,the cushion pad may take the form Off a sponge or chemically foamedcomposition.

Referring now to FIG. 3, the surface finishing device 10 is illustratedwherein the working surface 12 is in frictional engagement with asurface 20 intended to be moved and polished. The sunface 20 representsthe topmost surface of an article composed of marble composition.Preferably, the pad 11 has not been prepared other than by conventionaltanning procedures so as to provide a smooth and porous surface which isthen in direct engagement with the surface 20 of the marble slab 21.

Referring now to FIG. 4, the surface finishing device 10 is illustratedin a typical operation for smoothing and polishing the surface of ametal object 22. The surface of the object 22 may be either finishedsuch as with a coat of paint or unfinished exposing bare metal and maybe composed of aluminum, chrome, etc. For example, the object 22 may bea portion of an automobile body that has been painted and the device isemployed for providing a high gloss polish finish to the paint.

In FIG. 5, another embodiment of the present invention is shown whichincludes a leather pad 23 similar to the pad 11 and a semi-rigid backingmember 24 which is suitably secured to the top side of the pad 23. It isto be noted that semi-rigid backing member 24 is of substantiallysmaller peripheral dimension than the peripheral dimension of the pad sothat peripheral edge marginal region of the pad extends beyond theperiphery of the backing member 24. Thus, the backing pad may bepermitted to flex along the edge marginal region so as to more preciselyconform to the contour of the object to be polished. The version shownin FIG. is adapted to be operated by conventional power equipment suchas an electrical drill 25, so that a rotary movement is produced. Thedrill may be grasped by handle 26 and power to the motor within thehousing can be applied by means of a conventional trigger mechanism. Thepower motor 25 is connected to the backing plate 24 via a shaft 27 and acoupling coll-ar 28 by means of a fastener 31. The attachment is made sothat the shaft is releasably coupled so that the pad may be detachedtherefrom when desired. Other power equipment may be used to produceoscillatory or rectilinear movements. The object to be worked on in FIG.5 is a wooden object 30 and the object surface may be either finished orunfinished. By unfinished, it is meant that the wooden object has a basecoat of primer and by finished it is meant that the object is providedwith a finished final coat of paint, varnish, or the like.

In FIG. 6, the means for connecting the pad 23 to the drive member 27 isshown which comprises a headed bolt or screw 31 seated in a recess 32formed in the surface of the pad 23. The shank of the bolt 31 passesthrough the pad, backing member 24 and collar 28 into threadedengagement with a mating threaded bore provided in the shaft 27. Asecond recess 33 is formed in the opposite pad surface to accommodatethe beaded bolt when it is desired to reverse the pad to use itsopposite surface. In this manner, either working surface of the pad maybe utilized.

Another version of the invention is shown in FIG. 7 which includes acircular leather pad 34 employing either of its opposite sides 35 and 36as working surfaces. The pad includes a plurality of apertures or holes,such as a hole 37 in which a quantity of abrasive or polishing compoundis disposed. Such an abrasive compound may be represented by a mixtureof pumice with polyvinyl chloride resin, plasticized by di-Z-ethylphthalate on an abrasive composition composed of polyurethane resin andabrasive particles such as aluminum oxide in ratios of abrasive to resinof as high as 7:1 and as low as -1: 1. Normally, these compounds willreadily adhere to the pad wall surrounding each hole; however, asuitable adhesive may be employed, if desired, to secure the pellet-likequantitles of compound material in the respective holes. An alternateconstruction resides in the employment of slots, such as slot 38, formedin the pad. Abrasive and polishing compounds may be seated in theseslots and be exposed through working surface sides of the pad.Therefore, the surface to be finished may be cut and polished at thesame time.

Therefore, it can be seen that the surface finishing device of thepresent invention provides a practical and economical means forattaining a finished surface with high luster and smoothness. Theworking surface 12 of the pad 11 is relatively smooth and somewhatporous. However, the surface is characterized by a plurality of minuteirregularities which is characteristic of tanned and finished leather.Such a surface has been found highly desirable for attaining highquality smoothness and polish of desirable luster and gloss.Furthermore, the working surface of the pad effects hardness of thearticles finished surface as well. Preferably, when dealing with wood orwoodlike material, the tanned leather pad may be presoaked in water forapproximately two hours and then allowed to dry so that the workingsurface 12 is conditioned to be of a somewhat harder surface. In someinstances, soaking need be not longer than '10 minutes. The soakingoperation also tends to stabilize the working surface so that the padmay be used repeatedly without excessive wear. Also, because of theporous nature of the working surface 12, a variety of rubbing andpolishing compounds may be employed which results in conservation of thecompounds and which permits repeated usage of the pad with the same ordifferent compound.

In FIG. 8 there is shown an embodiment in the form of a rotatable brush10a which has a leather bristle mounting pad 37 connected to a powerdrive-n, rotatable shaft 39. A number of leather bristles 38 areattached to pad 37 in order to provide a polishing and cleaning device.As described in connection with FIG. 7, an abrasive or polishingcomposition can be incorporated within the bristles to increase thepolishing action. The leather bristles produce a dragging action on thesurface to be finished which is not obtained by other bristlecompositions, such as nylon, and thereby increases the finishing action.It is understood that the brush need not be power driven but can beworked by hand. In one preferred form, the brush bristles areapproximately 16 inches long and Ms inch in diameter. The leatherbristles can be applied to other types of rotary brushes, such as vacuumcleaner brushes, for use in the finishing of surfaces.

While the instant invention has been shown and described herein what isconceived to be the most practical and preferred embodiments, it isrecognized that departures may be made therefrom in the scope of theinvention, which is therefore not to be limited to the details disclosedherein, but is to be afiorded the full scope of the claims.

What is claimed is:

1. A surface finishing device for finishing the surface of an articlewith a smooth and polished luster comprismg:

a soft flexible pad having a working surface adapted to frictionallyengage with the surface of the article to be finished;

a semi-rigid backing member carried on the side of said pad opposite toits side constituting said working surface whereby said pad ismaintained substantially rigid;

means releasably engageable with said backing member for effectingmovement to said pad to cause said Working surface to rub against thesurface of the article to be finished whereby said frictional engagementtherewith is effective to smooth, harden and polish the articlessurface;

said pad being composed of tanned leather wherein said working surfaceis characterized by a relatively smooth porous texture having minutesurface irregularities:

said backing member including a peripheral edge arranged in fixed spacedapart relationship with respect to the peripheral edge of said padwhereby a continuous pad edge marginal region is provided that isadapted to flex about said backing member peripheral edge;

means for securing said pad with said moving means, said moving meanscomprising a portable power unit adapted to be hand held;

said leather pad being characterized by being subjected to immersion inwater for a prescribed period of time so as to condition said workingsurface; and

said securing means including a head fastener; and said pad including arecess formed in opposite sides thereof in coaxial relationship andadapted to receive the head of said headed fastener whereby either sideof said pad may be used for surface finishing purposes.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,040,599 5/1936 Davies 51-3912,950,584 8/1960 Welch 51-378 3,030,742 4/1962 Costello 51-391 2,155,0374/1939 Churgin 51-378 3,121,298 2/1964 Mellon 51-40 7 1,069,329 8/1913Grombech 51-155 FOREIGN PATENTS 18,951 9/ 1929 Australia.

3,227 2/1903 Great Britain. 397,160 8/1933 Great Britain.

OTHELL M. SIMPSON, Primary Examiner US. Cl. X.R.

